Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) posted his second Hong Kong feature winner this year when progressive four year-old gelding Helios Express scored a commanding win in the HK Classic Mile (1600m) for four year-olds at Sha Tin on Sunday following on from Victor the Winner landing the Group I Centenary Sprint Cup last month.
Helios Express wins the first leg of the 4YO Classic Series - image HKJC
Trained by John Size and ridden by Hugh Bowman, Helios Express enjoyed a good run in transit and when angled into the clear he powered clear to win by nearly two lengths taking his overall record to six wins and two placings from eight starts.
Helios Express will next attempt to emulate Golden Sixty with success in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 3 March.
Golden Sixty (2020) and Rapper Dragon (2017) stand alone as the only horses to sweep the 4YO series with victory in all three legs, culminating in BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) success, and Size hopes Helios Express can continue his blazing ascent.
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uo;It was a slow run race and he was able to adapt to a very slow tempo, which is a good thing in a racehorse. He was able to overcome that and still win the race,” Size said.
“Of this generation of horses, he seems to be the quality horse amongst the ones he’s competing against, and it was a very convincing win.”
Size confirmed plans to head to the Hong Kong Classic Cup and is confident in Helios Express’ adaptability.
“There’s always some concern (about the step up in distance) because the circumstances of the races can change dramatically from one race to the next. The good horses overcome a different style of running and they win. He has to do that – he has that in front of him.
“It’s always very exciting, and a bit of a relief actually to have another good horse come along. You look forward to it and hope it happens. You can’t design the stable to achieve that, but it’s always gratifying to see another good horse come along in this age group, and hopefully he has a good career.”
Hugh Bowman has ridden Helios Express in both of his wins this year.
“The critical side of me says I would have liked for him (Helios Express) to settle a bit better in the run but it was a very sedate tempo which encouraged him to travel the way he did – but that’s the sign of an exceptional horse – and when I gave him room and asked him for an effort, that’s exactly what we all saw,” he said.
“I’m excited to be riding such a magnificent individual.”
Helios Express was bought from Australia after his first win at Benalla in November 2022 and was originally sourced from Inglis Digital.
Helios Express was a diamond in the rough on Inglis Digital.
The Chris Wells-bred Helios Express was purchased by Jamie Edwards’ Emsley Lodge for $10,000 as a yearling through the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale in 2020 and it was Edwards who prepared the horse for his only start, and win, in Australia when the horse was named Tex Mex.
Helios Express is the first winner from Paris Texas, a winning Hinchinbrook mare from the family of Group winners Hadabeclorka, Chocante and Lavish Girl. Sadly, she died in 2021 after producing just two foals.
Helios Express is the 36th stakes-winner for Toronado.
